Summer is upon us, the time when millions pack up the car, strap in the whole family, and excitedly hit the road. Although some make a National Lampoon vacation of the process, it certainly doesn’t have to be that way. With a small bit of planning and, most importantly, the right route, a summer drive with the family, a loved one, or even just by yourself, can be a very pleasant experience. You might not have an epiphany, but then again you might. Who knows?
Because the direction is so all-important, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to choose some of the best panoramic routes in the USA. In our combined decades of pleasure driving for some of the country’s most 
popular automotive magazines, we’ve seen a gaggle of pretty roads. But we’re here to tell you that the four we feature are surely among America’s best. And, so that it doesn’t seem that we’re playing favorites with localities, we have chosen roads in the Southeast, the Midwest, the Northeast, and the Pacific Coast. Given the limited space we have, that’s about as ecumenical as we can get. And so, without further ado, here are 4 Hot Summer Drives. Read more . . .
This is a great drive in itself rounding Olympic National Park, but you must take some side trips into the park. Drive U.S. 101 all the way from Port Angeles to Quinault. There are several suggested excursions into the park that include Port Angeles up to the Hoh Rain Forest and the Hurricane Ridge.
This 4-hour trip, without breaks for eating and shopping, is from Sedro Woolley to Winthrop, and takes you through the truly breathtaking North Cascades National Park and surrounding national forest lands.
This route is a mountain-lovers dream with scenic overlooks, parks, roadside picnic areas, and even a car ferry. Make sure to pack your hiking boots, plenty of film, and some rain gear as it rains a lot! Your trip begins in Olympia and leads north on U.S. 101 for about 85 miles before heading east on Route 104 to Port Gamble. Here you will drive south to Route 305 to Bainbridge Island and ride the ferry across Puget Sound to Seattle. Olympia is the gateway to the Olympic National Forest and the Olympic Mountains. While in town, check out some of the many antique dealers or stroll around the State Capitol buildings.